Warp knitting machine



July l2, 1966 K. KOHL wARP KNITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. e, 19664 Fig.1.

INVENTOR; MRL Kom,

,Jew

l QENT United States Patent O Mice 3,260,074 WARP KNITTING MACHINE Karl Kohl, Offenbacher Landstrasse, Hainstadt (Main), Germany Filed Nov. 6, 1964, Ser. No. 409,538 Claims priority, application Germany, Nov. 9, 1963, M 58,863 6 Claims. (Cl. 66-86) The present invention relates to improvements in warp knitting machines, and more particularly to a two-speed drive for the warp beam of such machines.

In warp knitting, repeat patterns sometimes require the delivery of suddenly changing lengths of yarn to the knitting mechanism, half a yarn part per loop being changed to three yarn parts per loop Within each pattern, for instance. In conventional warp knitting machines, such patterns could be produced only by braking the -Warp beam to vary its rate of yarn delivery to the knitting mechanism. Obviously, only patterns requiring minor changes in the yarn delivery rate could be produced on such machines and they cannot meet modern knitting pattern requirements. High-speed warp knitting machines with driven warp beams and a yarn delivery rate which `is independent of the yarn tension cannot be used for knitting complex patterns.

It has lalso been proposed to use adjustable warp beam drives but, in these known drives, it is not possible to change exactly from one speed t-o another. Rather, the

lchange is gradual and extends over several rows of loops, which makes such drives useless for the desired purpose.

It is the primary object of the present invention to overcorne these and other disadvantages and to produce a high-speed warp knitting machine with a constantly driven warp beam whose rotational speed can be changed abruptly between two courses Without at any time interrupting the rotation of the warp beam, one speed being transmitted at one stage and another speed at another stage.

This and other objects are accomplished iu a warp knitting machine comprising a knitting mechanism, a warp beam holding a supply of yarn and delivering the yarn to the knitting mechanism, and Warp beam rotating means including an infinitely variable speed transmission driving the warp beam `at variable speeds whereby the delivery rate of the yarn to the knitting mechanism is varied, by arranging a two-speed transmission in the warp rotating means. This transmission includes an input gear train and an output gear train7 means for selectively coupling the gear trains for operation at two selected speeds, and means for operating the selective coupling means. The coupling means includes .an overriding clutch and a friction coupling between the input and output gear trains, and is arranged selectively to couple the input and output gear trains through the friction coupling and the overriding clutch.

In a preferred embodiment, the two-speed transmission includes a first reduction gearing arranged to transmit power to the input gear train and a second reduction gearing arranged between the input and output gear trains. When the input and output gear trains are coupled through the friction coupling, power is transmitted directly from the first reduction gearing to the output gear train to produce a high-speed output while the overriding clutch is disengaged from the output gear train. When the friction coupling is disengaged, the overriding clutch engages the output gear train, thereby transmitting power from the input gear train over the second reduction gearing'to` the output gear train and thus to change the output s eed.

pAccording to one feature of `this invention, the infinitely variable speed transmission includes an output shaft driving the warp beamand anl input shaft, the output gear l 3,263,074 Patented July 12, 1966 train of the transmission being operatively connected with, and driving the input shaft.

According to another feature of the invention, the selective operating means for the coupling means includes a pattern disk or pattern chain determining the warp beam rotational speed in accordance with the yarn delivery rate required for the desired pattern.

The above and other objects, -advantages and features of the present -invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein FIG. l is a schematic side view, partly in section, of the warp beam drive mechanism of this invention; and

FIG. 2 illustrates the different yarn patterns possible with the drive mechanism.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is schematically shown a generally conventional warp knitting machine including a machine bed or housing 23 for a conventional main drive shaft (not shown) for operating connecting rod 19 actuating the movement of knitting needle bar 18. The yarn guides 20 are also operated by conventional drive mechanism indicated at 22, the operation of the needle bar 18 and the yarn guides 20 being well known and requiring no further description.

The supply of yarn 21 is led from warp beam 2 over eye 27 to the knitting mechanism including yarn guides 20 and the knitting needles mounted on the needle bar 18 to produce the desired knitted pattern in generally conventional manner, all of these structures being schematically shown and sketchily described since they form no part of the present invention, except as combined with the warp beam drive mechanism herein below described in detail. As is also conventional, the warp beam rotating means includes an infinitely or steplessly variable speed transmission 3 whose output or driven shaft carries worm gear 1 meshing with gear wheel 1 keyed to the warp beam shaft for driving the warp beam. Variation of the drive speed of the warrp beam regulates the tension under which yarn 21 is delivered to the knitting mechanism 18, 20.

According to the present invention, the infinitely variable transmission 3 determining the rotational speed of Warp beam 2 is operatively connected to the main driving shaft (not shown) for the knitting machine by means of a twoaspeed transmission 5, which will now be described in detail.

Input or driving shaft 10 of the infinitely variable transmission 3 is the output or driven shaft of the twospeed transmission. Gear wheel 10a is iixedly connected to variable transmission driving shaft 10, being keyed thereto or integral therewith. Shaft 10' is coaxial, but not connected, with shaft 10, gear wheel 10a being freely rotatable on shaft 10.

The two-speed transmission of this invention is arranged in a housing 28 and shaft 10 is journaled in a bearing 29 in a wall of the housing 28. The warp beam rotation is controlled by the two-speed transmission in the following manner:

In a conventional manner not illustrated herein, the main driving shaft of the knitting mechanism is connected by a chain to sprocket wheel 4 which thus represents the main driving mechanism of the machine. The sprocket Wheel 4 is keyed to driven shaft 30 to whose other end gear 6 is keyed. Thus, rotation of the main driving shaft causes rotation of sprocket wheel 4 and gear wheel 6 at the same speed, thus operating transmission gearing 6, 6a, 6', gear wheel 6a being carried by a stub shaft mounted on the housing 28 and gear wheel 6 being keyed to shaft 10' to rotate the same upon operation of the gear train.

The gearing 6, 6a, 6' transmits the rotation from the main `driving mechanism to input gear train 7, 7a, 7-.

3 Gear wheel 7' is keyed to shaft 10' to rotate with gear wheel 6 `while meshing gear wheel 7 is mounted on stub shaft 31 carried by housing 28. Gear wheel 7a is mounted on shaft 32 journaled in a bearing (not shown).

An output gear train 10a, 9a, 9' is arranged for cooperation with the input gear train. Gear wheel 10a, as explained hereinabove, is keyed to, or integral with, input shaft 10 of the variable transmission 3 while gear wheel 9a is mounted on shaft 34 and gear wheel 9 is mounted on shaft 32.

A friction coupling 8 is interposed between the input and output gear trains so that the speed of driving shaft 10 may be adjusted. For this purpose, means is provided for selectively coupling the input and output gear trains for operation at two selected speeds. This selective coupling means includes an overriding clutch 14 and a conventional clutch to move the gear wheel 7a axially on shaft 31 into, and out of, engagement with gear wheel 9a, the friction coupling 8 interconnecting the two gear trains for simultaneous rotation when the gear wheel 7 is moved towards gear wheel 9a while the two gear trains are disengaged when the gear wheel 7 is moved away from gear wheel 9a.

The clutch comprises a yoke 35 which rotatably engages the hub of gear wheel 7 and which has projections 36 which are engaged by ends 37 of a fork pivotally mounted in housing 28. The clutch actuating fork is pivoted by means of a cable 7b connected to the fork in a conventional manner (not illustrated) to operate the selective coupling means.

The input gear train of the two-speed transmission is selectively connectable to the output gear train of the transmission by means of another transmission gearing 13 consisting of wheel gears keyed, respectively, to shafts 32 and 38. Shaft 38 carries overriding clutch 14 connected to gear wheel 14a .which is freely rotatable on shaft 38 an-d meshes with gear wheel 9' of the output gear train.

Shaft i2 is journaled in machine bed 23 and carries cam disk 12 cooperating with cam follower 24 mounted at one end of two-armed lever 2.4 mounted in the machine bed on pivot 25. The lever is held in contact with the periphery of the cam disk by means of a tension spring 26 anchored to the other end of the lever 24 and to lug 26. The clutch operating cable '7b is trained over guide rollers 39, 39 and has one end attached to the other end of lever 24.

The operation of the above-described warp beam driving mechanism will be partly obvious from the description of its structure and will be further summarized hereinbelow.

During the knitting operation, the main driving shaft is rotated to operate simultaneously the knitting mechanism 18, 20 and the warp beam 2 in a conventional manner, the knitting needles and yarn guides being pivoted in relation to each other by cams on the driving shaft, which in turn operate connecting rods, such as shown at 19. The warp beam is rotated to deliver yarn 21 to the knit-ting mechanism, the speed of the warp beam rotation being controlled by innitely variable speed transmission 3 whose input or driving shaft is operatively connected to sprocket wheel 4 which, in turn, is connected to the main driving shaft by means of a chain drive (not shown).

In accordance with the invention, a two-speed transmission is interposed between the drive means 4 and the driving shaft so that the warp beam may be selectively rotated at two speeds. When high-speed rotation of the warp beam is desired, the two-speed transmission input gear train 7, 7a, 7 is in engagement with the output gear trains 10a, 9a, 9 by means of friction coupling 8. Thus, the rotation of sprocket wheel 4 is transmitted to gearing 6, 6a, 6', the rotation of the gearing is transmitted to input gear train 7, 7a, 7 and hence to the output gear trains 10a, 9a, 9, gear wheel 10a being fixedly connected to input shaft 10 to operate the Variable speed transmis- Sion 3 at the speed set by the gearing.

During rotation of shaft 12', cam follower 24' will periodically be pressed into cam disk recesses 40 by means of tension spring 26 biased to pivot the end of lever 24 Icarrying the cam follower into contact with the periphery of the cam disk. Whenever the cam follower 24 enters into a cam disk recess, the lever 24 is pivoted and thus pulls cable 7b. Pulling the cable operates the clutch 35-37 to move gear wheel 7 axially away from gear wheel 9a, thus disengaging the gear wheels 7 and 9a of the input and output gear trains of the two-speed transmission. In this axial position of the input gear train, it transmits power to the output gear train via gearing 13 and overriding clutch 14 which causes gear wheel 14a to mesh with the output gear train and to transmit to the driving shaft a reduced rotational speed. The -overriding clutch 14 disconnects the gear wheel 14a from the output gear train when the friction coupling S connects the input and output gear trains.

The relative transmission ratio of the input gear train to the output gear train is 1:1 when coupling 8 is engaged, and 1:4 when the coupling is disengaged. However, the ratio may be changed in a known manner t0 1:8, 1:10 or 1:12 by changing the four wheels of gearing 13.

With th'e two-speed transmision of the present invention, repeat patterns may be produced in the knitting, which require different speed yarn feeds from the warp beam to the knitting mechanism, one such pattern being illustrated by way of example in FIG. 2. In this embodiment, the repeat pattern 17 consists of a tricot pattern 15 changing abruptly to a satin pattern 16, the tricot pattern requiring three yarn parts per loop while the satin pattern requires six yarn parts per loop,. Such a repeat pattern may be readily obtained with the twospeed control of the warp beam rotational speed of this invention.

While the invention has been described ink connection with a preferred embodiment, it will be readily understood that many modifications and variations may occur to the skilled in the art without department from the spirit and scope of this invention, as defined in the appended claims,

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a warp knitting machine comprising a knitting mechanism, a warp beam holding a supply of yarn and delivering the yarn to the knitting mechanism, and warp beam rotating means including an infinitely fvariab'le speed transmission driving the warp beam at variable speeds lwhereby the delivery of the yarn to the knitting mechanism is varied: a two-speed transmission arranged in the 4warp beam rotating lmeans, said two-speed transmission including an input gear train and an output gear train, means for selectively coupling the gear trains for operation at two selected speeds, said coupling means including an overriding clutch means coupling said two gear trains at one of said selected speeds, and means `f-or operating said selective coupling means.

2. In the combination of claim `1, said infinitely variable speed transmission including an output shaft driving the warp beam and an input shaft, said output gear train of the two-speed transmission 'being operatively connected with, and driving, said input shaft.

3. In the combination of claim A1, said Warp beam rotating means includes a driven shaft and said two-speed transmission includes a first gearing arranged 'between the driven shaft and the input gear train, the gearing transmitting the rotation of the driven shaft to the input gear train and selectively to the output gear train, a friction coupling lbei-ng arranged between the input and output gear trains for coupling the trains, and said operating means including a clutch for selective-ly engaging and disengaging the friction coupling of the gear trains.

I4. IIn the combination yof claim 3, a second gearing in the two-speed transmission, said second gearing being arranged between the input gear train and the output gear train, said `overriding clutch transmitting power from the input to the output gear train when the friction coupling is disengaged.

5. In the combination of claim 1, the selective operating means for the coupling means including a driven cam disk.

6. In combination with a Warp knitting machine comprising a knitting mechanism, a Warp beam holding a supply of yarn and delivering the yarn to the knitting mechanism, and Warp beam rotating means including a driven shaft and an innitely variable speed transmission driving the warp beam at variable speeds whereby the delivery of the yarn to the knitting mechanism is Varied: a two-speed transmission including an input gear train and an output gear train, a rst gearing arranged between the driven shaft and the input gear train, mea-ns for selectively coupling the input and output gear trains for rotating the warp beam at tw-o selected speeds, the rst gearing transmitting the rotation of the driven shaft to the input gear train and selectively to the output gear train, said coupling means including an overriding clutch and a friction coupling between the input and output gear trains, a second gearing arranged between the input gear train and the -output gear train, said coupling means being arranged selectively to couple the input and the youtput gear trains through the friction coupling and the overriding clutch, and means for -operating said selective coupling means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,707,380 5/1959 Ebert 66--86 DONALD W. PARKER, Primary Examiner.

P. C. FAW, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A WARP KNITTING MACHINE COMPRISING A KNITTING MECHANISM, A WARP BEAM HOLDING A SUPPLY OF YARN AND DELIVERING THE YARN TO THE KNITTING MECHANISM, AND WARP BEAM ROTATING MEANS INCLUDING AN INFINITELY VARIABLE SPEEDS TRANSMISSION DRIVING THE WARP BEAM AT VARIABLE SPEEDS WHEREBY THE DELIVERY OF THE YARN TO THE KNITTING MECHANISM IS VARIED: A TWO-SPEED TRANSMISSION ARRANGED IN THE WARP BEAM ROTATING MEANS, SAID TWO-SPEED TRANSMISSION INCLUDING AN INPUT GEAR TRAIN AND AN OUTPUT GEAR TRAIN, MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY COUPLING THE GEAR TRAINS FOR OPERATION AT TWO SELECTED SPEEDS, SAID COUPLING MEANS INCLUDING AT OVELYING A CLUTCH MEANS COUPLING SAID TWO GEAR TRAINS AT ONE OF SAID SELECTED SPEEDS, AND MEANS FOR OPERATING SAID SELECTIVE COUPLING MEANS. 